UNLV Hires Dan Mullen As Next Head Coach

UNLV Hires Dan Mullen As Next Head Coach

With Barry Odom on the move to Purdue, UNLV was quick to bring in a new Head Coach. The Rebels are looking to maintain their momentum from this season after they went 10-3, this hire might do just that. On3.com reports that they have agreed to a deal with former Florida head coach Dan Mullen to fill that role for the Rebels. Mullen has spent the last two seasons as an analyst for ESPN, and last coached in 2021.

On the surface, this is a really good hire for UNLV. Dan Mullen brings a level of professionalism to the role and is a hard-nosed coach. He went 34-15 during his time at Florida, including going 21-14 in conference games. Before his stop at Florida, he made a name for himself at Mississippi State, where in nine seasons he went 69-46, including a ten-win season in 2014. Mullen has been a hot name in the coaching carousel but has always insisted he was happy in his analyst role. When talking with Paul Finebaum on his show back in November, he had this to say: (full quote from the same site above)

“I love doing the TV. I love the situation I’m at. You never say never to go back to coaching. It would have to be the right head coaching opportunity for me and my family,” Mullen said. “When you coach, you’re all in. It’s life-consuming. It consumes your life, your whole family’s life. So, if the right opportunity ever presented itself, you never know, I might go back. But I’m really enjoying this kind of media, TV life. And, being on your side of things.”

Dan Mullen is taking over an upstart UNLV team at the right time. Barry Odom had the Rebels in back-to-back Mountain West championship games and should be serious contenders next season under Mullen. UNLV will certainly be a team to keep an eye on in 2025.

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